High Speed Chase from Centre Ends in Tuscaloosa Saturday
At approximately 7:20am, Saturday, September the 7th – a pursuit began that involved State Troopers with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Highway Patrol Division. The chase began here in Cherokee County, in Centre, after an officer with the Centre Police Department attempted to stop a 2023 Nissan Armada – that had been taken by a teenager from Tennessee.
The driver of the Armada failed to stop, with a pursuit ensuing – and that chase travelled then south on U.S. 411 through Leesburg with a Leesburg officer joining two Centre Units. That chase continued along U.S. 411 into Gadsden – with several Etowah County Sheriff‘s Office Units joining in.
The eluding vehicle turned onto I-759 toward Gadsden and out to U.S. 278 then toward Glencoe before turning around and back to 759 and out to I-59 South into St. Clair County, where Steele Police Officers then deployed spike strips resulting in the fleeing vehicle striking those spikes with the right tires. An Alabama Law Enforcement Agency unit then took over – with both the Centre and Leesburg units ending their pursuit. That chase continued on through Birmingham. During that pursuit, two civilian vehicles were struck by the Armada – in Jefferson County. That pursuit ended when the Armada left the roadway, and struck a fence and building while exiting Interstate 59 at the 77 mile marker, in Tuscaloosa County.
The driver of the Armada fled on foot – and he was soon apprehended by an ALEA Trooper without incident. Several agencies assisted in the pursuit that went across five counties. There were no injuries reported and there was no force was used during that incident. Fortunately, there were no ALEA vehicles damaged during the course of the pursuit. The driver – a 15-year-old, of New Market, Tennessee – was arrested and transported to the Tuscaloosa County Juvenile Detention Center and was charged with Felony Eluding.
No additional information is being released at this time – and the matter currently remains under investigation.
(Compiled Sources)